Successful Cord Blood Transplants of 2015 – Transformation in Healthcare

Posted on by admin

Major healthcare transformations and preventive medicine developments were witnessed in 2015. Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplants have been increasingly researched and proactively brought to use for curing a large number of diseases which were initially not treatable.

Successful Cord Blood Transplants of 2015

The life of a seven-year-old Emirati boy, Zayed Al Hammadi, was saved by cord blood stem cells

Zayed was diagnosed with beta thalassaemia major, a severe form of an inherited blood disorder that requires regular transfusions and does not have a permanent cure. Cord blood stem cells were donated by his three-year-old brother Mohammad. His condition was deteriorating fast and the family was given their last chance of hope thanks to the storage of Mohammad’s umbilical cord blood which was preserved at his birth. At present, stem cell transplant is the only known cure for beta thalassaemia major. A detailed Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) typing that is done to match a potential donor and recipient, showed the siblings were compatible. Zayed underwent a cord blood stem cell transplant. Since the transplant, he has returned back home, made a full recovery and no longer manifests any signs of disease. Kenneth R. Cooke, managing director, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who carried out the surgery, said: “Stem cell storage really can change lives and to see such a positive outcome with Zayed’s case shows just what is possible. I would always recommend families to store their child’s cord blood whether they know of any possible health issues or not, as it can be used in the future for their benefit and that of other family members”.

13

Stannington toddler suffering from massive brain tumor undergoes a successful cord blood stem cell transplant

Little Joseph Fawcett battled back from a massive brain tumor which almost claimed his life. Courage knows no bounds for the three-year-old who has undergone 11 bouts of intensive chemotherapy and a cord blood stem cell transplant in order to fight back to health. His parents are today looking forward to a family Christmas, knowing they have come a long way from that heartbreaking day their son was diagnosed. Luckily, against the odds, Joseph’s treatment started working and he no longer has any signs of the tumor. Now the lively three-year-old is looking forward to Christmas at home with his parents and younger brother, William.

14

Shanghai Baby Girl Returns Home after Successful Stem Cell Treatment

Zhao Jiaxin is back in her parents’ arms yesterday after being released from the hospital in Shanghai. The baby earlier underwent cord blood stem cell therapy at Fudan University’s Children’s Hospital to treat a bowel disease. The stem cells were extracted from umbilical cord blood provided by a donor.

15

The dearth of available treatment options and proven results of cord blood stem cell transplants, make the need for Cord Blood Stem Cell Banking evident. Babycell is one of the best and largest service providers of cord blood stem cell banking. Along with stem cell preservation, Babycell also provides value added services like antenatal care newborn screening (NBS), CFU assay- to test the ability of stem cells to differentiate, HLA testing and more.

 

Cord Blood Stem Cell Banking – A hope for HIV cure

Posted on by admin

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a virus that attacks the immune system, people infected with it can live up to many years without showing any symptoms. This virus slowly deteriorates the immunity of a person and is transmitted to another if certain precautions aren’t followed.

Signs and symptoms of late-stage HIV infection may include:

If left untreated, HIV weakens the ability to fight infection leaving the person vulnerable to many diseases. There are a few signs and symptoms which shouldn’t be taken lightly if they are prevalent for a long time. These symptoms are a Blurred vision, fever of above 37C (100F) lasting for weeks, night sweat, weight loss, permanent tiredness, shortness of breath, diarrhoea (which is usually persistent or chronic), dry cough, white spots on the tongue or mouth, swollen glands lasting for weeks.

Prevalence and Incidences of HIV in India

Men, but less so women, showed a distinct age pattern of deaths from AIDS, peaking at age 25-34. In India, more than 2.1 million people are suffering from HIV, with 172,000 deaths occurring annually

Treatment

HIV is treated using a combination of medicines. This is called antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART does not cure the disease; it can control the virus so that you can live a healthier life and reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others.

Benefits of umbilical cord stem cells for curing HIV

The world’s first clinical trial which aims to cure five HIV patients within three years using transplants of blood from the umbilical cord is set to start in Spain. Till now, only one person has been completely cured of HIV and is known as the “Berlin patient”. He was diagnosed with both HIV and Leukaemia and needed to be treated for cancer. The doctors used a bone marrow of a donor who had a certain cellular mutation which resisted HIV.

Patients suffering from AIDS-related lymphoma are witnessing the birth of new treatment methods for their illness, and one of these procedures successfully utilizes HIV-resistant umbilical cord stem cells. Doctors have identified stem cell transplantation as a viable treatment method for relapsed or high-risk AIDS-related lymphoma, suggesting a more effective cure for patients currently suffering from this disease.

Here’s an info-graph to illustrate and summarize the above-mentioned facts.

12

The alarming numbers of HIV incidences in India and proven results of stem cell transplants, make the need for Cord Blood Stem Cell Banking in India evident. Babycell is one of the best and largest service providers of cord blood stem cell banking. Along with stem cell preservation, Babycell also provides value added services like newborn screening (NBS), CFU assay- to test the ability of stem cells to differentiate, HLA testing, Father’s wellness program and more.

Need and Benefits of Umbilical Cord Blood Banking to cure Cerebral Palsy

Posted on by admin

Cerebral palsy is considered a neurological disorder caused by a non-progressive brain injury or malformation that occurs while the baby’s brain is under development. Current treatment centers on the alleviation of symptoms to make cerebral palsy more manageable and does not offer a permanent cure. Infusion of stem cells preserved through umbilical cord blood banking is a proven cure for cerebral palsy and provides permanent relief to the patients.

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders that affect movement. It is permanent, but not unchanging, physical disability caused by an injury to the developing brain, usually before birth. Cerebral palsy primarily affects body movement and muscle coordination.

Causes:

For most babies born with cerebral palsy, the cause remains unknown. For a long time, it was believed that cerebral palsy was due to complications at birth, including asphyxia (lack of oxygen). Now, it is generally accepted that cerebral palsy usually arises from a series of events that can lead to an injury in a baby’s developing brain.
In 13 out of 14 cases of cerebral palsy in India, the brain injury leading to cerebral palsy occurs either in the uterus (while the mother is pregnant) or before 1 month of age.

1

Risk Factors

  1. Premature birth
  2. Low birth weight (small for gestational age)
  3. Blood clotting problems (thrombophilia)
  4. Inability of the placenta to provide the developing foetus with oxygen and nutrients
  5. RH or A-B-O blood type incompatibility between mother and baby
  6. Prolonged loss of oxygen during the pregnancy or birthing process, or severe jaundice shortly after birth.

Prevalence of Cerebral Palsy in India

According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimation, 10% of the global population has some form of disability due to different causes; in India, it is 3.8% of the population. Nearly 15-20% of the total physically handicapped children suffer from Cerebral Palsy (CP). For India, the estimated incidence is around 3/1000 live births; however, being a developing country, the expected actual figure may be much higher.

Cure of Cerebral Palsy – Stem Cell Transplant

Injection of umbilical cord blood stem cells can help protect or repair damaged nerve cells. Umbilical cord blood stem cells can be collected from the umbilical cord shortly after birth. They are currently being used as a potential treatment for cerebral palsy and are able to support the recovery of damaged nerve cells by releasing substances that stimulate the body’s own repair systems.

2

Considering the high incidence of cerebral palsy in India and curative uses of umbilical cord blood stem cells, it is evident that umbilical cord blood banking is important. Babycell is one of the best cord blood banks in India and uses a sophisticated Double Sedimentation Spin (DSS) Technology for the preservation of umbilical cord blood stem cells.

World Autism Awareness Day

Posted on by admin

What is Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

Autism is a complex developmental disorder affecting social, language and behavioral skills. It usually appears in the first 3 years of life.

Symptoms of Autism

The symptom visibility ranges from medium to severe. Early signs of autism in children include:

  1. Unusual Visual Fixation
  2. Abnormal repetitive behavior
  3. Lack of age appropriate sound development
  4. Delayed intentional communication
  5. Decreased interest in interaction

Here’s a brief description of early signs in infants –

autism-final

People with ASD also have aspects of other conditions, such as:

  1. A learning disability.
  2. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  3. Tourette’s syndrome or other tic disorders.
  4. Epilepsy.
  5. Dyspraxia.
  6. Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
  7. Generalised anxiety disorder.
  8. Depression.

Autism has emerged as the leading cause of child mortality worldwide. Currently 10 million children are Autistic and 6 children out of every 1000 have Autism in India. Also 1 to 1.5 per cent autistic children are between age two and nine in India. The prevalence rate of autism in India is 1 in 250. Autism accounts for higher incidences in males: One in 4,000 boys to one in 6,000 girls. Up to 20 per cent of boys with autism have the condition. Till date Autism has no cure, and there is an increase in number of cases year on year.

Cord Blood Stem Cells offer the ray of hope

Infusion of umbilical cord blood stem cells can stimulate repair of nervous system to improve language and behavior skills. FDA Approved Phase I Clinical Trial at Duke University, US involves infusing patients diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder with their own cord blood stem cells. 25 children of age 2-4 years have already been successfully treated using their own cord blood stem cells

Autism

Human derived umbilical cord blood stem cell therapy: New therapeutic weapon for cardiomyopathy

Posted on by admin

What is Cardiomyopathy?

Cardiomyopathy is disease of the heart muscle in which the heart muscle becomes infected, enlarged, thick, or rigid.

Picture1

 

Current Treatment

Treatment options can only manage cardiomyopathy or reduce risks and they depend on the type of cardiomyopathy the patient has, the severity of the symptoms and complications, age and overall health. Current treatment options cannot completely cure the disease. Treatments may include:

  • Heart-healthy lifestyle changes
  • Medicines
  • Surgery and implanted devices

The main goals of current treatments cardiomyopathy include:

  • Controlling signs and managing symptoms so that patient can live as normally as possible
  • Managing any conditions that cause or contribute to the disease
  • Reducing complications and the risk of sudden cardiac arrest
  • Stopping the disease from getting worse

Cardiomyopathy incidences in India

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have emerged as the leading cause of mortality worldwide. In India, 1.7-2.0 million deaths are attributed to CVDs annually. The South Indian region, which is home to one‑fifth of the total population of India, accounts for ~25% of total CVD-related deaths in the country. It is estimated that by 2030, death linked to cardiovascular complications will rise to 17.9 million in India alone, which is approximately 10 times the CVD-related mortality in the US. Prevalence of cardiomyopathy is reported to be higher in the South Asian population as compared to Western population. In India cardiomyopathy accounts for about 15-20% of sudden cardiac deaths.

Umbilical cord blood stem cell therapy to treat Cardiomyopathy

With a focus on recent advances that highlight the vascular potential exhibited by umbilical cord blood stem cells, new found study proves the efficacy of umbilical cord stem cells in the cure of cardiomyopathy. Umbilical cord blood stem cells have a significant potential to regenerate into cardiac muscle cells. Potential mechanisms of umbilical cord blood stem cells and amelioration of IDCM myocardium, consideration of these issues show that umbilical cord blood stem cells are conceivably new therapeutic agents for this complex and elusive human disorder. Indeed umbilical cord blood banking can create a healthier society.

Cord blood stem cell therapy for dilated cardiomyopathy: Preclinical studies have demonstrated that cord blood stem cells:
(i) Inhibit myocardial inflammation
(ii) Inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis
(iii) Stimulate angiogenesis
(iv) Display therapeutic activity in models of dilated cardiomyopathy

Clinical studies have demonstrated the ability of mesenchymal stem cells to inhibit post-infarct remodelling, as well as potently block inflammatory processes in graft versus host and Crohn disease. Case report of a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy treated with intravenous allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells and expanded umbilical cord blood CD34 cells who underwent a profound clinical improvement.

Reference:
·         http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21641354
·         http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18549704

Cord blood for transplants is collected from the umbilical cord after a newborn baby is delivered. The stem cells from this cord blood are extracted in a Cell Processing Centre and preserved in -196ᵒ C liquid nitrogen tanks for future use.

Umbilical Cord Blood Banking Process

Picture2

Picture3

Considering the incidences of cardiac diseases, life threatening complications of cardiomyopathy and high potential of umbilical cord blood stem cells; make the need for umbilical cord blood banking in India evident. Babycell is a service provider of umbilical cord blood banking in India. Babycell achieved its ISO certification in the first year itself; by the second year of operations they received GMP, GLP and GCP certifications. Babycell also provides value added services like new born screening (NBS), CFU assay- to test the ability of stem cells to differentiate, HLA testing, Father’s wellness program and more.

 

5 Questions to Ask Before Choosing the Best Stem Cell Bank

Posted on by admin

While you are pregnant, one of the most important tasks for you and your family is to plan and safeguard your baby’s future! This requires a lot of groundwork and planning for the baby-on-the-way. Health conscious and aware parents are considering cord blood stem cell preservation to be an integral part of their baby plan.

What is Umbilical Cord?

The term “cord blood” is used to describe the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and the placenta after the birth of a baby. Up until recently this afterbirth umbilical cord was discarded as medical waste. Cord blood contains stem cells that may be cryopreserved for later use in medical therapies, such as stem cell transplants or clinical trials of new stem cell therapies.

What are cord blood stem cells?

The blood in the umbilical cord and placenta is rich in stem cells. The stem cells in cord blood can grow into the blood and immune system cells, as well as other types of cells.

Screenshot_1

 

One of the most important decisions to be taken is – Which is the best umbilical cord blood bank for my baby?

Here are a few questions that you must ask the cord blood bank and choose the best cord blood bank for your baby.

Picture1

 

Let’s take it step by step based on the following parameters –

  1. Are there any specific accreditations I should look for when selecting a cord blood bank?

To decide on a cord blood bank, you’ll want to look at a number of factors which will define cell processing and lab practices: Cord blood banks should comply with national accreditation standards developed by national regulatory bodies such as ISO, FDA, GMP, GCP and GLP.  Cord blood banks who have attained these gold standards have a systematic, hygienic, temperature controlled and regulated lab for extraction and preservation.

  1. When and how is cord blood collected?

Umbilical cord blood is harvested quickly and painlessly just a few minutes after the birth of the baby— after the cord has been clamped, on both sides, and cut (either before or after the delivery of the placenta). The blood is collected either by drawing the blood from the umbilical cord with a needle and a “gravity bag” to drain and collect the blood.

  1.  What questions should parents ask about Collection?

It is necessary to know if the cord blood bank takes care of the collection of cord blood at the time of birth and the cost of shipping the cord blood to the preservation facility is included in the contract/agreement. It is also important to ask about paramedic or collection experts’ availability on weekends and wee hours.

  1. How does the cord blood bank manage shipping at the time of preservation and retrieval?

Most cord blood banks assure free global shipment at the time of retrieval, but it also important to understand the shipping criteria during transportation of the specimen from birthing centre to the cryopreservation facility. You may also want to ask the cord blood bank to guarantee to transport the specimen to the lab and processed within a certain time window. It is mandatory that the cryo-shipping container has a temperature logger.

  1. Is CFU really important, should we as parents care about it?

The answer is simple, it’s a big Yes. At present Colony Forming Units or CFU are considered to be the only and the best measure of whether stem cells are “viable”, or quite frankly if the cells are alive.  The Total Nucleated Cell count includes both living and dead cells.  In the CFU test, a small portion is watched under controlled conditions to see if cord blood stem cells divide and form colonies.  It is a standardized technology to image the cells and count colonies in the image.  It is advised by experts to take the CFU test before preservation as the test takes a lot of days for colonies to grow rather than wasting time at that time of retrieval or transplant to perform the test.

We hope this helps you to ask the right questions and thereby make your decisions about preserving your baby’s stem cells with the right bank!

For more information you may check: parentsguidecordblood.org/ and http://www.babycell.in/

Babycell has a panel of cord blood banking and stem cell transplants experts. To address your queries on stem cell banking you may call 1800 209 0309

Eight-year Old receives a Life Saving Stem Cell Treatment

Posted on by admin

This is a story of Veena who was cured of Thalassemia by using umbilical cord stem cells.
Veena was detected with Thalassemia major since her birth. Veena’s parents always wanted her to live a normal life like other children. They visited a lot of doctors and pediatricians. Their lives revolved around appointments, medication and the constant worry of her condition getting worse.

While on the lookout for alternate solutions to her therapy, they came across stem cell banking therapy that had a cure for a myriad of disease, Thalassemia being one of them. This led them to Babycell’s center.

The doctors suggested her family to have another child and bank the new-born child’s cord blood stem cells which will help them cure Veena’s condition. Dr. Vijay Ramanan (Hematologist) was the specialist appointed to take this procedure ahead. The team executed the process smoothly with conscious moves at every step and the operation went as it was anticipated.

Veena’s transplant has been successful and has changed her life forever. She now lives a normal life just like others kids, playful and full of life. The best part about this transplant is that she is now free from all the machines and transfusions she was previously dependent on. She is living a healthy life with no worries, and a future full of surprises and ambitions.

World Cancer Day

Posted on by admin

On an average 2 people in India are diagnosed with cancer every minute!

On this World Cancer Day let’s all come together and strive to spread awareness about the disease.

Let’s educate people on how umbilical cord blood cells can help curing 70+ blood disorders causing cancer. Here are some stats on the prevalence of the disease and how Stem Cells give us new hope to fight it!

Cancer-infographic

A Ray Of Hope For Alzheimer’s Disease

Posted on by admin

November is Alzheimer’s Awareness month and to acknowledge this month, we want to spread awareness on how Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells might have a potential cure for this disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. The first signs of Alzheimer’s often include lapses in memory or struggling to find the right words. Over time, symptoms such as confusion, mood swings or memory loss develop and become increasingly severe.
Scientists have been actively engaged in research on stem cell transplants for Alzheimer’s disease patients and studies have shown some benefits. It was discovered that low doses of umbilical stem cells infused into a sample brain reduced the inflammation caused due to the plaque.

This brings us to the cessation that human umbilical cord MSCs (Mesenchymal stem cells) can bring a relief to an Alzheimer’s patient with its therapeutic components.

Here’s an info-graph that will give you insights on the current state of the disease.

Picture1